Citation

Perings SM, Hennersdorf M, Koch JA, Perings C, Kelm M, Heintzen MP, Strauer BE. Med. Klin. (Springer) 2001; 96(11): 685-688.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/pl00002161

PMID

11760657

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pneumonic complications after intoxication with mineral oils have been described before in the contents of accidental aspiration and oral ingestion. However, intoxication following an intravenous injection leading to a lipoid pneumonia after an attempted suicide is a rare finding.
CASE REPORT: A case report is presented of an attempted suicide by intravenously self-injection of 20 ml lamp oil (liquid paraffin). Immediately after injection the patient suffered from dry coughing which changed in the course of the next hours into a productive cough with white thick mucous sputum accompanied by hemoptysis. Additionally, he developed a mild disseminated intravascular coagulation with a fall of thrombocytes, an INR of 1.6 and a rise of D-dimeres. Under a therapy with hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid, ambroxol, acetylcysteine, heparin, antibiotics and oxygen, the patient improved without the need of mechanical ventilation. Initially seen signs of right heart dilatation diminished 3 days after onset of therapy. Apart from pulmonal manifestation no relevant organ damage was observed. The patient was discharged from the intensive care unit 9 days after intoxication and was submitted to psychiatric therapy.
CONCLUSION: Lipoid pneumonia caused by intoxication with a mineral oil is a severe disease, whereas in the presented case a relative bland course of the disease has been seen. The employed therapy in this patient might be encouraging for a comparable treatment of pneumological complications resulting from similar clinical pictures.

Language: de

Keywords

Adult; Critical Care; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Lung; Male; Mineral Oil; Pneumonia, Lipid; Radiography; Suicide, Attempted; Treatment Outcome